We helped people start their record Sealing/Expungement process at 11/6 “RAP Sheet Day”

Together with our allies, we helped people start their record Sealing/Expunging process at 11/6 RAP Sheet Day

For many of our constituents – low-income workers of color – this process can help them have more job options


On Monday, 11/6, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm, at the Chicago Police Department (35th and Michigan): a crowd of community members attended (who had pre-registered), went through intake, showed I.D.’s (including the City Key I.D.), and got their record Sealing/Expunging process started. (Photos from the 11/6 event are here below.) The Monroe Foundation and Get Cleared Illinois played a central role in putting together this event, while we at Working Family Solidarity conducted community outreach and mobilization, including an appearance on Telemundo Chicago Evening News, to promote this event, and the earlier 10/31 City Key I.D. event.

On 10/31, we helped many people get their City Key I.D. card, which the Chicago Police Dept. accepts as a form of identification for the record Sealing/Expunging process. A number of people used this I.D. at the 11/6 event to request a copy of their RAP Sheet (Record of Arrests & Prosecutions), which is a necessary step in the Sealing/Expungement process.

Our Lead Organizer, Kevin Johnson, and our Community Organizer, Luis Gomez, were present on 11/6 to help out with the intake process. We are involved in issues of criminal justice, such as Sealing & Expunging, because some of our members and constituents have been turned away from jobs due to their record. We are supporting our members and community residents to have more job options.
Photos (from Hurley Green III and The Monroe Foundation): (top) Working Family Solidarity Lead Organizer, Kevin Johnson, helping to orient an attendee, with support from our Community Organizer, Luis Gomez, (at left, seated); (center) Tomi Moore (far left) and Tomeiko Brown-Lee (left), both of The Monroe Foundation, doing intake with two attendees; (bottom) Several attendees asking questions about the intake process and when they will receive their official RAP Sheets.
Working Family Solidarity, Solidaridad de Familias Trabajadoras in Spanish, is a non-profit, 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization.